After weeks of preparation, the day has finally come and you are ready to move out and into your new home! Moving day is often stressful and there are a lot of things that need to be taken care of before the new property owners take possession of your house. The following guide will help as reminders for some of the things that you need to consider on moving day and in the days leading up to your departure.
10 Days Before
- Prepare a list of all the utilities that need to be finalized
- Make sure that you have an adequate supply of boxes and packing materials
- Confirm the moving date with the removal company
- Prepare an area or room in your home where you can place filled boxes ready for the removal company to transport
7 Days Before
- Start packing the rooms that you don't use often, such as the den or family room
- Pack items that you won't need until you arrive in your new home and label the boxes clearly with what is in it and the room it came from
- Send cards to friends and relatives with your new address so they will know where to find you after you have moved
5 Days Before
- Start to prepare children and pets for the moving day - get kids to help you pack and let them pack and label a box of their own
- Check progress with your Realtor and Lawyer to make sure everything is proceeding as it should
- Prepare larger items of furniture such as sideboards, unused beds and bedding and cabinets that are going with you to the new house
3 Days Before
- Clear the Yard of personal items, kids toys, summer furniture
- Pack all kitchen and personal items that you won't need for the next 3 or 4 days
- Mow the lawn
- Pack all clothes and personal belongings that you won't need for the next 3 or 4 days
The Day before
- Most of your boxes should be ready to reloctae, labelled and closed tight
- Fragile items should all be clearly labelled and packaged
- Go room to room, check all closets are empty, furniture is ready to ship and all drapes and fixtures you will be taking with you are ready to go
- Close off each room once it's been checked
- Start a 'Moving Day' to-do list
- Keep a box of handy cleaning items - you will need them on moving day
Moving Day
- Have the removal company take your boxes and furniture out of the property room by room
- Follow them round with the vaccum cleaner and duster
- Wipe baseboards, window sills and give the windows a quick wipe over
- Close off each room once it's clean and ready for the new owners
- Check all kitchen cabinets and built-in storage - is everything out and packed?
- Take a reading for the hydro and any gas meters - if you have oil fired heating, use a stick to dip the tank to measure the fuel left over so it can be reconciled with the purchaser
- Leave a note with any spare keys, saying which key does what and where
The Day After
- Telephone or log into your online accounts with hydro and other utilities and let them know what your final meter readings were
